The Opelousas courier., 1887-11-12

days after planting. LII piano
ing in tropical climates and
countries it is best to run the
burrows from east to west, in Or
der to prevent the meridian sun
drying the soil in temperate
climates and countries, where
irrigation of the soil is easy, the
direction should be south to
north, as experience proves that
a moist, warm soil contributes
largely to the growth in height
of the plant without furthering
its formation of side branches.
During the first .Ke7r the plan
tation must be kept free and
clear of weeds. In the second
year the roots of one or, two rows
can be pulled out, to serve for a
new plantation.
From one thousand roots pro-
.pagated in this way fifteen thou
sand can be secured for the next
season. This will plant two Or
three acres.
Three crops can be cut in the
South in an ordinary season, and
each crop will yield about 1900
pounds of clean fibre to the
acre.
The maturity of the stalks
and the time for cutting is in
dicated by a brownish color on
the lower part Of the stalks. Out
from two to three inches from
the ground. The leaves left on
the ground Of the plantation
make excellent manure, but q
thorough application Of liquid
manure from time to time will
much improve the yield.
The woody part Of the stalks
burned to ashes will also prove
an excellent fertilizer.
Chemical analysis of the ramie
plant shows that the elements
which it principally consumes,
and which therefore ought to be
supplied by manuring, are pot
ash, soda and phosphorus. These,
with the nitrogen supplied by
the green leaves left on the
ground, will preserve any pro-
perly chosen soil from exhaustion
for an indefinite period.
The preparation of the ground
is important. Before planting,
the soil should be ploWed and
subsoiled and left fallow, unit
the buried leaves and other
heritage, are thoroughly assimi'
lated. If the ground lacks rich
ness, a coating ofmanure should
be turned under, with the fnaI
cross-ploWing.
It is not an exhaustive crop
and on good, rich, deep soil vii
thrive many years without
manure ; but in the worn, ex'
hausted fields of Southern
j, Europe and Algeria the best re
suits are6obtained BY light an.
nual top-dressiH#nsof w%ell-rottet
stable manure or tGAemical ferti
lizers.
Five thousand roots will plan
an acre. After that the plant'
: spring up from the roots every
r where and cover the ground
Hence after the second year NJ
cultivation is needed, and a full
! crop is secured year after yea
without re-planting. If the LAM
. is poor and thin it should be top
fortified with muck or ordinar,
compost,seac winter, in Decem
Der or January.
1T is best to commence plant
ing ramie from young slips AM
root-pieces, instead of from0th
seed. The slips and roots multi
ply very rapidly and facilitat
planting, while seed developint
serviceable plants only in six t
nine moths. With care a goo
result may be obtained fror
9 using slips. Although the plant
ing is somewhat more exper
e siye, the yield will be earlier an
d more profitable.
. Ramie will grow proftabl
in any part Of the United State
70 especially in the South. In Gel
tral Georgia it will yield tv
crops; in Louisiana, Florid'
J and States of same latitude,
! will produce three crops, whic
should give ten tons or 1000
nEpounds of stalk and 400 poun(
Y of cleaned fibre. At five cen
g per pound it will give a gro
l. yield of 5000 per acre.